NHTSA Complaint #10263991 — 2007 KIA SORENTO

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE VEHICLE IS POORLY DESIGNED AND WILL FREQUENTLY DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WHILE AN ADULT PASSENGER IS RIDING IN THE PROPER MANNER, AS DISPLAYED BY THE VEHICLES OWNER MANUAL. MOREOVER, THE AIR BAG SENSOR DOES NOT CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR THE PASSENGER AFTER IT HAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SHOULD BE OFF - THE ONLY WAY TO RESET THE AIRBAG IS TO HAVE THE PASSENGER LIFT THEMSELVES OFF OF THE SEAT (WHILE REMAINING BUCKLED) FOR OVER 2 SECONDS. EVEN TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, REMOVING THE KEY, AND TURNING THE VEHICLE BACK ON DOES NOT WORK VERY RELIABLY - RESETTING THE SENSOR ~35% OF THE TIME. THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON THIS VEHICLE IS A KNOWN ISSUE (TSB# KT2008022001), AND REPEATED CALLS TO SERVICE CENTERS RE-ENFORCE THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO INTENTIONS OF ISSUING A RECALL OR EVEN A SIMPLE SOFTWARE UPDATE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, THEY INSTRUCT THAT THE SERVICE MEMBERS FIND A 'SUFFICIENTLY LARGE' MECHANIC, INSTRUCT THEM TO SIT IN THE SEAT TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVICE WORKS CORRECTLY. OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEED THE MINIMUM WEIGHT, THE SENSOR WORKS CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, I'VE HAD THE PROBLEM WITH ADULT PASSENGERS WITH WEIGHTS RANGING FROM 120-170 LBS AND CONSIDER IT TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR